14 | Letters To the editor KRA using technology to speed up services This is in response to a letter by Jean Gacene (Nation, April 8), touching on KRA’s iTax System. The system was implemented in a phased approach and indeed 93 per cent of large taxpayers and 63 per cent of medium taxpayers are already enjoying the services. Other taxpayer categories will be progressively migrated to iTax in a manner to avoid disrupting their businesses and KRA operations. The rush by taxpayers to upload their data and to meet the March 1 deadline caused a systems overload, which has since been addressed by allowing continuation of manual filing to provide enough time for all taxpayers to be migrated into iTax. As a web-based application, iTax provides the convenience to taxpayers to file their returns from their home or office at any hour of day or night. It also offers numerous payment channels following our partnership with Kenya’s vast commercial bank network. So far we have partnered with 24 leading commercial banks to provide this service under the payment gateway. This will mean less queue time in KRA banking halls as well as swift processing of related services such as issuing compliance certificates, refunds, amendments, waivers, etc. KRA is committed to increasing efficiency and ensuring better compliance with tax laws by adopting best practice in all areas. We continuously seek support from taxpayers to embrace change as we seek to exploit the full potential of technology. E. K. MARU, Ag. Deputy Commissioner, Marketing and Communication Duale’s fervent support was too good to be true That Leader of Majority in Na- tional Assembly Aden Duale took an about-turn from his hitherto fervent support for Jubilee and criticised the manner of flushing out of suspected illegal immigrants has refused to die. Duale’s party URP distanced itself from his sentiments. Indeed, the operation has netted a number of Somalis illegally in Kenya. That success disapproves Duale’s assertions and cast him as a knee-jerk reactionary. UhuRuto should have seen it com- ing. Duale was too good to be true. His cantankerous style should have reminded them of Miguna Miguna’s overboard defence of former premier Raila Odinga. Moral? Be wary of defenders with exaggerated gusto. NICHOLAS CHERUIYOT, Bomet YESTERDAY’S QUESTION Comment on police boss Kimaiyo’s tough gun orders in war against crime MICHAEL ORENDE: The IG’s tough gun order is draconian and retrogressive given that we have a working and robust justice system. He should not spoil the few gains of confidence the Kenya police had started earning plus reminding us of the past healed wounds but ugly scars of the extra-judicial killings. DAN TUMBO: Though it sounds well in combating crime and terrorism, it is against the spirit and letter of our Constitution besides costing many lives of innocent Kenyans. VICTOR ABUKA: This is dangerous as we shall see in the days to come. Take the case of the police who shot a woman who was breast-feeding in her house and then the officer commanding was frustrating Kavuludi team from investigating. J. M. CHEGE: I think the police boss was clear in his orders. You cannot arrest armed persons bare-handed. Let us be realistic and support police in the fight against criminals. ALINORY BONIFACE KWENA: Intelligence is the key not many officers using too much force! TALKING POINT Democracy a luxury Kenya cannot afford if it has to grow the economy basic decision-making and prioritysetting is too complex for the man and woman on the village path or slum. Yet, we have given them power to do so via “democracy”. Do they understand education, I economics, or health theory and policy? So why give them the power to decide who should be President, MP, Governor, Ward Representative, etc? How can they know who has competence to manage the very areas they hardly fathom? The so-called middle-class and its “analysts” decry the “lack of issues” in the campaigns. Which issues can you campaign on in a rally of hecklers who do not know or appreciate what tax is for? We often mouth the cliché of being at the same level of development with Singapore and South Korea 50 years ago, but have been left behind. What would we have expected? Those countries rolled out deliberate programmes to grow trained citizens in all areas, elite, not distracted by any pretence at democracy. On our part, we started with an alien governance structure of Parliaments, Senates, maces, horse-hair wigs, etc. The result? Intellectual mediocrity and a knowledge deficit of the juveniles in our Assemblies. Any wonder all they discuss is “rain does not come from trees” and sex in the family? Let us learn from the same Singapore, and its Lee Kuan Yew who FILE | NATION An angry mob blocks a road in a demonstration during the 2008 post-election violence. made that Singapore of today possible. From Conversations with LEE KUAN YEW, we should learn that: we need to create a new society using a different governance system; this society should be grounded on family-based and community-orientated values such as discipline, and hard work; we should apply what works — utilitarianism (not formless “reforms”); and we should have a leadership of intellectual and proven merit — thinkers (not crowd pullers) and those with discernible competencies. These are not in today’s universities, assemblies, political parties, etc, nor are they “electable”. We are going nowhere beyond the ethnically structured politics of today with the current governance model. Indeed, on the one hand, not only has devolution emphasised that deeply-entrenched mind-set, but it has also revealed the undying allure of the “presidency” for our tribesman. Therefore, this democracy of elections will never resolve our deep-seated tribal antagonism. Our parties are not based on ide- ology because they are following the Leninist path to capture power, no more, no less. By the same token, our “elections” are simply a mechanism of assigning power, with no qualitative purpose to it. MICHAEL HATEGO, Nairobi Let’s all join hands in support of counter-terrorism efforts In recent weeks, insecurity seems to be worsening, with increased terrorist attacks and radicalisation of youth. I condemn these attacks and pray that friends and families of those who have lost their lives may find peace and comfort despite the circumstances. I have often said that security is not negotiable and emphasised the need for government to be resolute in fighting crime. Security is paramount in the pursuit of economic development. A secure nation attracts visitors and investors. Persistent attacks hinder any efforts towards attaining economic growth and creating employment opportunities for the youth. In this regard, it is necessary for the government to demonstrate its capacity to secure Kenya and her n a society yet to attain socioeconomic development as understood by global parameters, DAILY NATION Thursday April 10, 2014 The editor welcomes brief letters on topical issues. Write on e-mail to: mailbox@ ke.nationmedia.com. You can also mail to: The Editor, Daily Nation, POB 49010, Nairobi 00100. Letters may be edited for clarity, space or legal considerations. SHORT TAKES Emails from correspondents MOVE DUMPSITE: A fully-fledged dumpsite in front of Mombasa County Stadium is a big eyesore. It started as a small refuse collection point last year. I tried to swallow a banana I had bought from a nearby kiosk, but I couldn’t, as the stench from the site accompanied it down my throat. The area has become a home of rodents and scavengers. People who live next to the site are forced to keep their windows shut full time. The county government should move the disturbing site in the outskirts of town. JUSTIN N. NKARANGA, Mombasa PUSETU PARENTS: Cotu secretary- general Francis Atwoli’s political romance with the State is to blame for the birth of Pusetu. First, the Cotu vocalist was too in bed with the President and his Jubilee government on rising to power. The relationship was marked by praises. Yet his recent speech was a pointer to a soured relationship. At the same time, the government’s full support for the second labour union explains it all. The sabotage by government ought to be a lesson to any union against seeking political favours. KAJILWA GEORGE, Kakamega INSECURE KENYA: Rasna Warah’s analysis titled “Kenya sliding down a slippery path...” was complemented by Gado’s cartoon in yesterday’s Nation. Insecurity is getting worse and there does not seem to be a well thought-out plan to arrest it. One would expect that after the Westgate attack, the intelligence organs would become wiser. Why did it take so long to carry out the swoops, and will this be sustained? It will not be surprising if those arrested are soon released through corruption, an issue leaders only pay lip service to. ERNEST SAINA, Nairobi NO TO STRIKE FUND: I read with people. I support and encourage the government in its ongoing efforts in the pursuit of terrorists and criminals who are bent on disrupting our way of life and bringing our economy to a standstill. I urge the government to employ its full force and never to relent. It is also important for the people to cooperate. It is unfortunate that some people feel that a specific community or religion is being targeted. Terrorists and criminals do not carry out their acts on behalf of any tribe or religion. We must, therefore, also speak out against any attempts to intimidate or blackmail government to halt its counter-terrorism efforts. The war on terrorism must be won, so we can build the nation. PETER KENNETH, Former Gatanga MP sadness the suggestion by the Knut leadership that teachers produce an extra Sh100 for a strike fund. Let them not pray for one. Let them enrol for a course in negotiation to save teachers the agony of singing in the streets. Let them visit various branches and see the sad state of some of their branch “executives”, who go to the extent of telling you to go and negotiate with county TSC representatives to solve your problem. They are not earning. My request is, reduce the monthly deduction of two per cent to one per cent, then start projects for members. VERONICA ONJORO, Thika DEBATE QUESTION Do you support the newly launched Pusetu in bid to dethrone Cotu? Send your comments to: mailbox@ke.nationmedia.com